Swivel spring snap opener



May 5, 1959 H. G. SCOTT 2,8 ,8

SWIVEL SPRING SNAP OPENER Filed Oct. 23; 1956 INVENTOR.

United States Patent "()fifice 2,884,823 Patented May 5, 1 959 2,ss4 ,s2a- SWIVEL. srnme. SNAP OPENER. Homer G.. Scott, Toledo, Ohio Appli ation October 23, msesenai Not1617,869, 1 Claim. (Cl; 81-3) This invention relates to fishing tackle andaccessori'es therefore... and particularly pertains, to. a. swivel spring snap opener.

Swivel spring snaps are used to removably securefish (hooks, flies; spoons, lures and plugs to a; fish line. The fishermen use their thum-bnail and finger to open and close the spring snap; These swivel-spring snaps are difiicult to open and close by the present method and often the fisherman hurts his finger or splits or breaks his thumb nail while operating the spring snap. The danger of splitting or breaking the thumb nail is greatly increased when the fishermans hands are wet. The task of operating the spring snap is still more diflicult when the fishermans hands are cold. Women and young anglers encounter even more difiiculty in opening and closing the spring snaps than do men. Some fishermen resort to the use of pliers to open and close the spring snaps. This method is not satisfactory and is dangerous because of the presence of fish hooks.

When a swivel spring snap is opened or closed with my novel device the device engages the spring snap and the novel device is in turn held and operated by the hand of the angler. Since the anglers thumb nail does not engage the spring snap when my novel device is used the possibility of breaking or splitting the thumb nail is eliminated. Since the hand is used to operate my novel swivel snap opener more pressure can be applied than in the old method of using the thumb nail to open the spring snap consequently the spring snap can be opened with less effort by the operator. For this reason my novel swivel spring snap opener enables women and children anglers to open and close spring snaps readily. Since my novel swivel spring snap is easily and readily held by the fishermans hand it enables the fisherman to readily operatev the spring snap when his hands are wet or cold. My novel device is also a valuable aid in operating the spring snaps in subdued light.

The object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that is adapted to easily and readily open and close the spring snap of a swivel spring snap.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that eliminates the danger of breaking or splitting the fishermans thumb nail while opening or closing spring snaps.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that eliminates the danger of a fisherman being hurt by a fish hook while opening or closing a spring snap.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that readily enables women and children anglers to open and close spring snaps.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that aids in opening and closing spring snaps in subdued light.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel spring snap opener that is strong, durable and inexpensive.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination WhlChZ. g V v Figure 1 is a. top plan. view ofmy novel: swivel spring snap opener;

FigureZis afront elevation of my novel: sw ivelv spring snapopener shown in Figure 1.. g p

I Figure 3. is a side elevation of my novel: swivel. spring snap opener. I A

Figure 4 is a partial. side elevation. of. my novel swivel spring; snap opener showing. only the. side of my novel device. v I

Figure 5; 18: a pictorialiview ofmy novel swivel, spring snap. opener. engaging a swivel spring. snap while held in a'hand.-.

, Figure 6'is an enlarged fragmentary view showing; how my novel' s'priiig snap, opener engages the spring, snap member. I p

Referringmore particularly" to the drawings, the fiu meral 10 indicates a loop of flat spring metal. This loop 10 carries arm members 11 and 12 which are slightly diverging with respect to each other. At the end of the arms 11 and 12 are portions bent toward each other, as indicated at 13 and 14. The portions 13 and 14 are provided with inwardly extending flat finger portions 15, 16 and 17. The finger portions 15 and 16 are spaced and are integral with the inwardly bent portion 14. The

may be used to open a spring snap.

When my novel swivel spring snap is used it is held in a fishermans hand as shown in Figure 5 and pressure is applied to force the arm members 11 and 12 toward each other. As the arm members 11 and 12 are moved toward each other the finger 17 moves in the guide slot 22 between the fingers 15 and 16. One pair of notches is then made to engage the spring snap 23. As the arm members 11 tion 10 causes the arm members 11 and 12 to move apart. At'the same time the spring snap ing the free end of the spring snap 23 to engage the spring snap catch 25. The spring snap is then closed and will then retain the fish hook or lure that has been placed on the spring snap.

From the above description of the operation of my novel swivel spring snap opener it will be noted that neither the thumb nail nor gage the spring snap in opening or closing the swivel spring snap. Consequently, the possibility of breaking or splitting the thumb nail is eliminated with the use of my novel device. In the operation of my novel swivel spring 23 spreads thus allow the finger of the fisherman ensnap opener the'hand is used to supply pressure for opening and closing the spring snap. ,Greater pressure can be applied by means of the hand than with the thumb and finger hence the spring snap can be opened more by the use of my novel swivel spring snap opener. Hence, women and children anglers can readily open and close spring snaps with the use of my novel swivel spring snap opener. At the same time the danger of being injured by fish hooks is minimized. When it is cold it is much easier to grip my novel swivel spring snap opener and operate the spring snap thanto use the thumb nail and finger.

While I have described one embodiment of my invention it is apparent that many modifications therein can be made in the combination, construction and arrangements of the parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

A swivel spring snap opener of the type described comprising a flat resilient U-shaped member, an inwardly extending portion integral with each leg of said U-shaped member, a pair of spaced fingers extending inwardly from one of said inwardly extending portions, a single finger extending inwardly from the second of said inwardly extending portions and adapted to slide between said pair of spaced fingers, a notch located in the end of one of said pair of spaced fingers and a second notch located in said second inwardly extending portion, said notches adapted to engage the spring snap of a swivel spring snap for opening :and closing saidspring snap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,609, 7 16 Forman 

